Boston firm Ropes & Gray has secured a takeover of top New York boutique Fish & Neave in a deal that sounds the death knell for the US’ independent IP specialists.

The tie-up, which goes live on 1 January, marks the end of one of the US’ last leading IP boutiques. The combined firm will create a 740-lawyer US practice with annual revenues of $463.5m (£250m) under the Ropes & Gray brand.